Hair-cleaning device



Jan. 7, 1941. s. A. SMITH HAIR-CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1939 2Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

B Y C j Jan. 7, 1941. 2,228,091

G. A. SMITH HAIR-CLEANING DEVICE Filed May 1, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2III/[If Patented Jan. 7, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 9 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for cleaning the hair and is amodification of my invention, application for patent for which was filedby me on June 28, 1938, Serial No. 215,671.

The object of the invention is to provide a device for removing dandruffand dust from the hair by means of suction. The device is intended toremove dandruff and dirt from the hair itself after the scalp has beenpreviously cleaned by my massaging and hair cleaning device, patentapplication for which invention was filed by me on April 15, 1938,Serial No. 202,155.

A further object of the invention is to provide a suction head having acomb projecting therefrom which is adapted to pass through the hair andraise it close to the mouth of the suction head so that the particles ofdust and dandruff that are in the hair will be drawn off through thesaid suction head, means being provided for adjusting the distancebetween the comb and the opening in the suction head, in order that itmay be used equally well in either thick or thin, long or short, hair.

A further object is to produce the aforesaid adjustment between the comband the opening in the suction head by the movement of the fin i isduring the operation of combing through the hair, so that exactly theproper pressure may be put on the hair to secure the best results incleaning.

A further object is to provide a brush in the opening of the suctionhead so that when the hair is raised against the suction head it will bebrushed out at the same time.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of theparts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully set forth in thefollowing specification and pointed out in detail in the appendedclaims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail section of the comb, showing it with theteeth at different angles.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a modification of my invention/ Figure 7is a front elevation of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a rear elevation of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a section showing the assembly of the movable comb holder,and the bearing supporting the same.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification, and in which like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout the several views thereof, I designates the suction headformed of light metal, or other suitable material, 2 an opening in saidsuction head for attaching to a suitable suction-producing mechanism,and 3 the mouth of the suction head. On one side of this suction head afiat surface 4 is provided, against which. is fitted the movable combholder 5 held against the flat surface by the pins 6. The lever I ispivoted at 8 to the flat surface 4 and is provided with an elongatedslot 9 at its inner end in which the pin ill on the comb holder 5operates to permit the comb holder 5, and consequently the comb, to beraised and lowered. Another pin II on the fiat surface 4 prevents thelever I from being raised too high while the cut-out portion l2 permitsit to be depressed farther than otherwise would be possible. The pins 6fit neatly in the slots l3 to allow free but smooth vertical movement ofthe comb holder 5. At the bottom of the comb holder 5 is an integralcylindrical flange l4 slotted at the bottom to receive the comb l5, andto hold it securely in the proper position relative thereto. Within themouth 3 of the suction head I is fitted thebrush I6, held in its properposition by the clamp I1 and guards l8 within the suction head. InFigure 5 is shown an enlarged section of the comb IS with the teeth atdifferent angles to illustrate how by modifying this angle the comb canbe brought in to the proper position relative to the brush I 6 forvarious types of hair.

In the modification of my invention shown in Figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10,instead of securing the adjustment of the comb in relation to thesuction chamber by means of raising and lowering the comb from thisopening, I. accomplish this adjustment by pivoting the comb. I shall nowdescribe in detail this modification. The numeral 33 designates thesuction head, 19 the opening therein for attaching to thesuction-producing mechanism, and 20 the mouth thereof. On the one sideof the suction head 33 and at the bottom and either end thereof, aremounted two bearings 2|. Held in position by these hearings is acylinder 22, slotted at its bottom at 23. When the cylinder is in theproper position, this slot 23 will check with slot 24 in the rearbearing 2| to permit the insertion and removal of the comb 25. Fitted inthe cylinder 22 is the comb 25, with the teeth 26 extending through theslot 23 therein.

bearing 29 in which the reciprocal plunger 30 is mounted. This plunger30 is provided at its outer end with the head 3| and its inner endimpinges against the lever 21 which is held normally against the innerend of the plunger 30 by the spring 32, as shown in Figure 9 of thedrawings.

I shall now describe the operation of my invention, describing first thedevice shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and secondly, the modificationshown in Figures 7, 8, 9 and 10. The device is first attached to asuitable suction-producing mechanism and after'this has been started,the suction head i is grasped at the top by the hand with the forefingerresting on the lever 1. It is now drawn over the head with the teeth ofthe comb l5 passing through the hair which is brought into the propercontact with the brush It by depressing the lever 1. The teeth of thecomb will raise the hair just tightly enough against the brush I6 tosecure the best results, adjustment being possible during each stroke ormovement by either depressing or raising the lever 1. To secure the bestresults when brushing through long hair, such as a womans hair, it wouldbe advisable to take a few strands at a time. In this manner, the entirehead of hair could be brought across the open mouth of the suctionchamber, thus removing all dirt and dandruff therein.

To use the modification of my invention, exactly the same procedure ispursued, except that the suction head is grasped in the hand in such amanner that the thumb will rest against the head 3| of the plunger. Theteeth of the comb are raised against the brush by pressure upon theplunger and the operation is otherwise the same as that previouslydescribed.

It is obvious that similar results could be achieved by having the brushin the suction head adjustably mounted to permit changing its positionrelative to the comb. This could be done without departing from thespirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism, a comb holder at one side of saidhead adjacent the mouth thereof, a comb removably fitted in said holderand having its teeth projecting therefrom across the mouth of thesuction head, and means for operating the comb when the device is beingoperated to regulate the free space between the projecting teeth and themouth of the suction head.

2. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism, a comb holder movably connected atone side of said suction head, a comb removably fitted in said holderand having its teeth projecting therefrom across the mouth of thesuction head, and means to raise and lower the comb holder to adjust thedistance of the teeth from the mouth of the suction head.

3. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism and having a mouth therein, a combholder on the suction head at one side of the mouth thereofand having aslot therein, a

comb removably fitted in said comb holder and having its teethprojecting through said slot, and means for adjusting the comb to changethe position of the teeth relative to the mouth of the suction head.

4. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism and having a mouth therein, a combholder adjustably secured to said suction head and having a cylindricalslotted flange thereon, a comb removably fitted in said cylindricalslotted flange and having its teeth projecting through said slot in saidflange, and'means for moving said comb holder to adjust the teeth of thecomb relative to the mouth of the suction head while the device is beingoperated.

5. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism, a comb mounted on one side of saidhead with the teeth extending across the mouth thereof, and means foradjusting the comb to change the position and angle of the comb teethwith relation to the mouth of the suction head.

6. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism and having a mouth therein providedwith a contracted opening, a comb holder on the suction head at one sideof the mouth thereof and having a slot therein, a'comb removably fittedin said comb holder and having its teeth projecting through said slot,and means for adjusting the comb to change the position of the teethrelative to the mouth of the suction head.

'7. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism and having a mouth therein, a combholder reciprocally mounted at one side of said head and having a slottherein and an arm projecting therefrom, a comb removably fitted in saidcomb holder and having its teeth projecting through said slot, and aplunger mounted in said suction head and adapted to cooperate with saidarm to adjust the comb to change the position and angle of the combteeth with relation to the mouth of the suction head.

8. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism, a comb holder movably attached tothe suction head, means for fitting a comb in the comb holder, anactuating member movably attached to the suction head and connected withor abutting the movable comb holder, and means for transmitting throughthe actuating member motion to the comb holder to change the position ofthe teeth of the comb relative to the mouth of the suction head.

9. The combination with a suction head adapted to be connected to asuitable suction-producing mechanism and having taperingly contractedside walls terminating in a mouth, a brush removably fitted in themouth, and guides on the end Walls of the suction head to center thebrush, the tapering side walls contracting the area of the mouth toapproximately the area required by the bristles of the brush and alsothe open space remaining at the sides of the back of the brush in theinterior of the suction head.

GEORGE A. SMITH.

